Agitator for washing-machines.



A. BOHY..

AGITATOR FOB WASHING MACHINES. APPLICATION FILED JULY 6,1916.

1,286,923. Patented Dec. 10, 1918.

amino srarns PATENT orrrcn.

ALFRED BOHY, 0F ALBIA, IOWA.

AGITATOR FOR WASHING-MACHINES.

Patented Dec. 10, 1918.-

Original application filedMay 8, 1918, Serial No. 233,299. Divided and this application filed July 6, 1918.

- Serial No. 243,640.

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, ALFRED BoHY, 'a'citizen of theUnited States, residing at Alb-ia,

inthe county of Monroeand State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Agitators' for Washing-Machines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings. e l

This invention relates to agitators for washing machines, and has for its primary object to provide an agitating mechanism operated by suitable gearing, whereby the clothes or other articles arranged in the cleanslng fluid contained in the tub or re ceptacle will be thoroughly agitated.

It is also one of the more particular obj ects of the invention to provide an agitator and an operative connection between the sameand its actuating shaft which aifords a limited relative axial movement of the agitator in the rotation or oscillation thereof,

whereby the cleansing fluid will be caused to permeate contained in the tub or receptacle.

It is also an important. ob ect of the invention to provide improved means for mounting the agitator, which is of such construction that frictional contact between metal parts in the relative movement of the agitator is avoided, whereby wear of the metal surfaces resulting in the formation of rust, will be obviated.

It is also a further general object of the invention to improve and simplify the construction of agitators for washing machines whereby the same will be rendered strong and durable, eflicient and serviceable in practical use, and capable of manufacture at relatively small cost.

With the above, and other objects in view, the invention consists in the improved construction, combination andcrelative arrangement of the several parts as will be hereinafter more fully described, subsequently claimedand illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein :-,c i

' Figure 1 is a side elevation of my imvfore, the operating gearin all parts of the fabriearticles proved agitator, showing the same operatively mounted in the tub or receptacle;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged horizontal section taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

'The invention forming the subject matter of the present application constitutes a division of my prior application for patent, Serial No. 233,299,1iled May 8, 1918. Therewhich is fully shown and described in said application, will not be herein described in detail. suffice to state that the agitator is arranged in the usual manner within a clothes receiving tub or receptacle 5 and is actuated by means of a gear driven shaft 10 centrally mounted in the top or cover of said receptacle.

To the lower end of the actuating shaft 10, a yoke-shaped casting 41 is securely fixed by means of the pin or bolt 42 extending transversely through said shaft and a sleeve centrally formed on the casting. The parallel depending arms 43 of this casting are provided with portions of substantially semicircular form in cross section, as shown at 43, which terminate at one of their ends in the inwardly projecting, horizontal shoulders 44. Each arm 43 also has a cylindrical end portion from the shoulder 44. The purpose of this specific construction of the yoke arms will be hereinafter more fully explained.

The agitator proper is of cruciform shape in plan and consists of two intersecting wood bars 45 having their central portions halved for interlocking engagement in the usual and well known manner. Each of these bars 45 is provided at its ends with angular lugs or extensions 46, preferably of cylindrical form and slightly inclined in an outward direction. One of the bars 45 is provided at points equi-distantly spaced from its center with the circular openings 47 extending vertically therethrough. These openings are of suflicient' diameter to; permit of the passage of the inwardly projecting It will.-

extending longitudinallyv shoulders 44 on the arms of the casting 41 through the same. The upper face of this agitator bar 45 is formed with a longitudinally extending recess or countersink 48 to I receive a stop bar 49, which is 7 also constructed of wood. The ends of this bar project over the respective openings 47 I and have rounded or convex end edges, indicated at 50, contacting with the inner concave faces of the casting arms 43. Such contact, however, is not sufliciently tight. to prevent the 4 free vertical sliding movement of the agitathe fastening bolt, 53, wherebythe'several parts may be rigidly securedtogether and held against relative movement by the clamping nut 54t-hreaded on the lower end of said bolt. 7

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction'and manner of operation of my improved agitator will be'clearly and fully understood. In the actuation of the shaft 10, arotary, oscillating motion is imparted to the agitator. In the alternate rotation of the agitator in opposite directions it will likewise move vertically upon the arms ofthe casting 41, the downward movement offthe'agitator by gravity to its normal position being limited by the engagement' of the endsof the stop bar 49 with the shoulders on the arms of the casting, and limited by the engagement of the agitator with the horizontal bar of the casting. in this vertical movement of'the agitator, the angular lugs 46 thereof engaging the clothes causes the cleansing fluid to thoroughly permeate' all portions of the fabric. The solid cylindricalend portions55 of the arms 43 serve to prevent relative lateral movement ofthe agitator bars and provide reinforce ments for the casting arms, thereby decreasmg wear upon the walls of the openings through the agitator bar and more efiectively holding the agitator stiff or rigid. The several parts of the device are of simple form, st'rong'and durable in their construction, and not liable to get o'utoforder. Thev surfaces of the casting are preferably galvanized or otherwise finished to prevent rusting and by eliminating frictionalwean ing contactbetween metal parts in the vertical movement of the agitator, these metal surfaces will not become worn. Thus, the

its upward movement being possibility of rusting of the metal parts, with consequent injury to the clothes, is obviated. I have herein illustrated one particular form of the agitator bars and the supporting casting therefor, but it will be understood that in practice, it may be found desirable to materially vary the relative proportions of these parts. The several other elements of the device are likewise susceptible of considerable modification in their form, construction and relative arrangement, and it is, therefore, to be understood that I reserve the privilege of adopting all such legitimate changes as may be fairly embodied within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

I claim 1. In a washing machine mechanism, an

agitator shaft, an agitator, a member fixed to one end of said shaft and havingspaced longitudinally projecting arms, said" agitator being provided with spaced openings to receive the arms of-said member, each of: said arms having a stop lug, and abar fixed to the agitator to engage said lugs and limit the longitudinal movement of the-agitator upon the arms in one direction.

2. In a washing machine mechanism, an agitator shaft, an agitator, a member fixed to one end'ofsaid shaft and havingspaced longitudinally projecting arms, said agitator being provided with spaced openings to receive the arms of said member, each of said arms having a stop lug, abar fixed to the agitator and projecting over said openings, the ends of the bar having sliding contact with the arms of said casting. and adapted to engage said lugs to limit the longitudinal movement of one direction, I

3. In a washing machine mechanism, an agitator shaft, a member fixed upon one end 0 the agitator in said shaft and having spaced longitu dinally extending arms provided'with lugs, an agitator consisting of intersecting; bars, one of said bars having openings therein to receive said arms, a stop bar countersunk in said agitator bar and projecting over the openings therein, the ends of said bar being adapted to engage said lugs and limit longitudinal movement of the agitator in one direction on said arms, a plate extending longitudinally upon the tator bars and over said stop bar, and a common means for securing the agitator bars, the stop bar and said plate against relative movement.

4. In a washing machine mechanism, an agitator shaft, a member fixed to one end of said shaft and having spaced channelshaped arms terminating in cylindrical extensions aifording a stop shoulder on each arm an agitator the arms of said memother of the agiher, said agitator having means to engage In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my the stop shoulders and limit the gravity signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

movement of the agitator to its normal posi- ALFRED BOHY. tion upon the arms, said cylindrical ends of Witnesses:

5 the arms being disposed within said open- FRED TowNsnNn,

ings in the normal position of the agitator. WALTER WHITLOOK.

Gopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. G." 

